Hopefully this universal remote will be more reliable than the real Sonic Screwdriver.

This replica is probably the closest you’ll ever get to having a real Doctor Who Sonic Screwdriver. What does it have to do with Apple, you ask? After all, this is the Cult of Mac.

The Screwdriver is also a universal remote, which means that it will not only control your TV and VHS VCR, but also you Apple TV and – via the Universal Dock – your iPhone or iPod.

This particular Sonic Screwdriver is a replica of the Mark VII Sonic Screwdriver used by the current incarnation of the Doctor, Matt Smith. It uses gestures to do its stuff, and if your puny non-Timelord brain can remember them all, the Screwdriver can manage up to 39 commands.

Then again, if you’re controlling the Apple TV, you’ll only need to memorize up, down, left, right and a couple button pushes. Even a drunken monkey could manage that. And I should know, as my pet monkey often steals my whisky and starts dickering with my Apple gear.

The Sonic Screwdriver will be ready for your iOS-controlling needs this August, from everybody’s favorite nerdware emporium ThinkGeek. In the meantime, attendees of the San Diego Comic-Con can check it out at BBC America Booth #3629, where you will also be able to discover “a host of other great gadget features.”